... almost finally ... old and new ... who knew?

Tuesday 24 Apr 2018

Moving slightly off topic before we give today's funny finish to this issue, we have a
new/old story for you. It's new because I just became aware of it ... but in reality it's
old
because it was first developed in 2013, even released to the garden centre visiting
public
then as well.

What is it you're asking? TomTato plants!

TomTato' tomato and potato plant unveiled in UK - A plant that produces
both
tomatoes and potatoes, called the TomTato, has been developed for the UK market.
Ipswich-based horticultural firm Thompson and Morgan said the plants were not
genetically modified.

Similar plants have been created in the UK, but the firm said it was thought to be the
first
time they had been produced on a commercial scale.

Guy Barter, of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), said it was looking at the plant
with
"real interest".

Mr Barter said many of these plants - created by a technique known as grafting - had
been created before but taste had previously been a problem.

"We're looking at it with real interest because Thompson and Morgan are a really
reputable firm with a lot to lose, but I wouldn't rule out that it could be a very valuable
plant to them," said Mr Barter, who is a contributor to BBC Gardener's World.

"In the past we've never had any faith in the plants - they've not been very good - but
grafting has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.

"Many people don't have that much space in their gardens and I imagine this sort of
product would appeal to them."

Thompson and Morgan director Paul Hansord claimed the tomatoes were tastier than
most shop-bought tomatoes and said the plant had taken a decade of work.
"It has been very difficult to achieve because the tomato stem and the potato stem
have
to be the same thickness for the graft to work," he said.
"It is a very highly skilled operation. We have seen similar products. However, on
closer
inspection the potato is planted in a pot with a tomato planted in the same pot - our
plant
is one plant and produces no potato foliage."
The firm said the plants last for one season and by the time the tomatoes are ready
for
picking, the potatoes can be dug up.